Merchants, this can be said to be one of the oldest professions in the world, when the most primitive barter appeared in human beings, gradually began to engage in this kind of goods forwarding to all directions, from which to make a profit.

As early as 4,000 years ago, Jian Di, the second concubine of the emperor, gave birth to a (ē) uncle because of eating a Xuanniao, so the "Ode to Poetry and Commerce" cloud: "The Xuanniao of Heaven is destined to give birth to business." "Yan Bo is the ancestor of Shang. Xiangtu, the grandson of Yan Bo, first invented the horse-drawn carriage, and the sixth grandson Wanghai invented the ox-cart. This is the record in the history books of "setting up a soap prison, serving horses and cattle, and thinking that it is for the benefit of the people". The rapid development of agriculture and animal husbandry made the Shang tribe quickly strong, and there was a surplus of what they produced, so Wang Hai used ox carts to pull goods, drive cattle and sheep, and went to the outside to engage in trade, and the people from the outside called them "merchants". Since then, the word "merchant" has been used as a synonym for "buyer and seller".

Businessmen go from all over the world, know what they have, argue between the high and the low, adjust the surplus and the shortage, and measure the distance and the near, which can be said to be the foundation of revitalizing the vitality of society. But in ancient society, merchants did not get a high status. The reason is simple: the social productive forces are not developed enough, and business is often a profitable behavior, and the rulers are very afraid that everyone will go into business and not engage in agricultural production.

But at this time, Zhao Weiji didn't think so, he was ready to use this group of businessmen to do a big thing.

Businessmen have a profit-seeking nature, which leads to businessmen often do something harmful to others and self-interest, and the consequence is that although the people are inseparable from businessmen, they also don't like businessmen.

But Zhao Weiji knew how powerful the businessmen were, this was an immeasurable force, but they had not yet gathered this force.

Now what Zhao Weiji has to do is to gather this power for his own use.

After this idea was born, he came into contact with a legendary group through the students of the business department he opened, which was the Hui Merchants.

Although the real stage of history of Hui merchants was after the middle of the Ming Dynasty, Zhao Weiji knew that this legendary merchant gang began to sprout in the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

Huizhou merchants are characterized by abundant capital, a wide range of activities, many business projects, a long period of prosperity and advocating culture. In particular, advocating culture is the most important to Zhao Weiji, and the characteristics of Hui merchants and Confucianism are in line with what Zhao Weiji is going to launch next.

……

"I'm here today to discuss something with you."

In Huating County, in the palace of King Wuyue, the hall was full of people. Except for Zhao Weiji, who was sitting in the main seat, all the people in the hall were a group of decent people who were dressed in general. But although this group of people has a Confucian temperament, they also reveal the shrewdness of the ups and downs of the sea with solid business from their eyes.

This group of people is the legendary Hui merchants.

"You are the prince, what do you have to discuss with our group of small businessmen?" The surname of the first person to choke on his mouth is Cheng, his name is Cheng Hui, Zhongming, a native of Qimen, Huizhou. Mainly engaged in tea.

The reason why he was the first to jump out and choke at this time was all because the new tea made by Zhao Weiji affected his business, and now the tea farmers in Qimen County are more willing to sell their tea to Zhao Weiji's tea estate, because the purchase price of Zhengshan tea is higher, and the sales are also better.

"Zhong Ming, don't be impatient, since the prince invited us here, he naturally has his intentions, and with the prince's current financial resources, it is estimated that he will not be able to invite us to come and humiliate us again."

The name of the person who spoke to dissuade Cheng Hui was Wang Bin, who looked like he was about fifty years old, and the three words mature, capable, and elegant could be said to be the most perfect interpretation of this person. He has done the largest business among the Hui merchants, and his prestige is also the highest, although the current Hui merchants have not yet formed the united merchant gang that they later had, but at this moment it can be seen that this Wang Bin has some rudiments of the leader of the Hui merchants.

"Let me ask you first, you have also been in business for many years, what is the most important thing in business?" Zhao Weiji saw that some businessmen in the hall didn't buy their own accounts too much, but he didn't care too much, because he knew that his next words would impress this group of people.

"Of course it's making money, who will do business if you don't make money." There is another person who has spoken, this person's surname is Jiang, and his name is Jiang Shao Zi Wenhe.

"This is natural, business is to make money, but guys, do you want to make the kind of quick money that can be done with a lump sum or long-term stable income?"

"This is naturally a long-term stable growth in income."

"So who can tell me what is the most important thing in doing a long-term stable business, in addition to making money, or what can help you earn money for long-term stable growth?"

As soon as Zhao Weiji's words came out, the pot exploded, and everyone had a different answer.

Some say it's a good product, some say it's a reasonable sales method, some say it's a good relationship with the government, in short, there are a thousand Hamlets in the eyes of a thousand people.

At this time, Wang Bin spoke again: "It is reputation, people cannot stand without trust, and business cannot prosper without trust." ”

Although Wang Bin's voice was not loud when he said this, his words pierced the hearts of all the merchants present like sharp arrows, causing them to fall into deep thought.

It is true that all the businessmen present know this sentence, but they rarely regard it as the most important principle of their own business.

And when Zhao Weiji heard Wang Bin say this, he knew that he was not looking for the wrong person, and this Wang Wenwu would be an excellent executor of his next plan.

"I think Mr. Wang is right at all, reputation is the foundation of doing business. Have you ever encountered such a situation, such as your brother Jiang. When someone bought the emblem paper sold by your brother Jiang, as soon as they heard that it was your brother Jiang's, they immediately bought it without any hesitation. ”

"It seems that there is, but after the paper I sell has become famous, it seems that the number of customers who are very happy has gradually increased."

"Why didn't they hesitate to buy your paper?"

"They all say that my paper is light and easy to write, and the quality of the paper I sell is always guaranteed, and there is never a shortage of quantity."

"Isn't this the credibility of your Brother Jiang's dragon beard paper? And Brother Cheng, what about you? Is there still someone who is willing to supply you with raw materials on credit for you to sell when your capital turnover is not working, so that you can sell and then turn over the funds and then repay the money? ”

"Yes...... Some. ”

"And why is that?"

"They said I had never defaulted on the money I had paid for the ingredients, so they believed I would be able to pay it back."

After hearing these two conversations, everyone here had a sense of déjà vu, the business here was not small, and the time was not short, and such things had happened to each of them.

At this time, everyone understood a truth, everything they said before was just a means to make a fortune, but if you want to do business for a long time after making a fortune, the most important thing is credibility.

Just like Cheng Hui, although his tea business was hit by Zhao Weiji's new tea, with his reputation over the years, he still survived the most difficult juncture. Although it is not as profitable as it used to be, it still hasn't fallen. Once he can find something that can fight against Zhao Weiji's new tea, he may not be able to turn over, after all, the time-honored brand is there.

Just when the businessmen present had just figured out this question, Zhao Weiji threw out another question.

"Actually, I'm a businessman. Can all of you, including me, have you ever thought of using despicable means against others when your business is under attack by someone else who does the same business?

Spread rumors, find faults, or even destroy the other party's store or source of goods?

You don't have to do it, just think about it. ”

At this moment, all the businessmen present lowered their heads, because Zhao Weiji's conditions were too harsh, as long as they thought about it, they would forget it. There is not a single person here who has not thought that everyone is from the dark side, and not everyone is a saint. It's good that these businessmen can hold themselves and not do it, but if you don't think about it, how can it be?

"What does the prince mean when he says so much?" At this time, Wang Bin finally couldn't hold back, this King Wu Yue definitely didn't find them to talk about business, the Tsinghua Academy he founded has a business department, and it is said that this person also gathered a lot of businessmen to give occasional lectures there.

"What I want to say is that there is actually too much uncertainty in our industry. The status of our businessmen is not high, and there are many dragons and snakes. There are many businessmen whose behavior is simply discrediting our industry. ”

"Isn't there no way to do this, the status of our merchants is low, and the imperial court often does not consider the interests of our legitimate merchants, and there is not even a law to protect us."

"It doesn't matter if the imperial court doesn't make a special law to protect our merchants, we can make it ourselves. As long as we, the legitimate merchants, unite and formulate our own laws and norms, we can protect our own interests and improve the status of merchants. ”

As soon as Zhao Weiji's words came out, the audience was in an uproar, what does this prince want to do? Merchants make their own laws? Is he crazy?

But at this moment, there was a person in the hall with a different mood, this person was not shocked, but a little expectant, and a little excited. This person is Wang Bin, and he is becoming more and more curious about this King Wu Yue.

"Then Lord Wang, how do you say that we are going to make our own laws, won't this become a shackle for us when we do business?"

"Mr. Wang, first of all, we need to be a little bit more careful, is it better to have order or chaos?"

"This is naturally in good order." When the business reaches a certain level, the businessmen are no longer thinking about how to make a loophole in the law, but hoping that the law will protect their existing interests.

Zhao Weiji had already thought about this clearly, so he was sure that this group of big businessmen would definitely accept his proposal, because what he proposed would be the umbrella of these people's vested interests.

"Since it is orderly, how can Mr. Wang be sure that the norms we will implement in the future will be shackles, after all, this is not something I promulgated alone."

"That's right, the prince is not an official, how can he make the commercial law binding?"

"That's what I'm looking for you today, and I hope to unite you to form a chamber of commerce."

Now everyone is dumbfounded again, what is the Chamber of Commerce?